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Wreaths Placed At The Graves Of Local Veterans

Pictured is Pine Hill Cemetery in Falconer where 37 wreaths were placed at the graves of veterans on Wreaths Across America Day. Submitted photo

Members of the Falconer American Legion Post 638 and Jamestown Composite Squadron New York 402 participated in National Wreaths Across America Day.

Organizations nationwide gathered Dec. 17 at cemeteries to lay wreaths at the graves of veterans and those who gave their lives to serve. More than 2.7 million wreaths were placed nationwide, including 37 at Pine Hill Cemetery in Falconer.

A similar event was held at Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown.

Jamestown Composite Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Ellen Maternowski said she has been participating in wreath ceremonies for several years.

“We started doing it in Falconer in about 2017 or 2018,” Maternowski said. “The American Legion Post 638 has been a tremendous help, and we also had help from the County Color Guard. The cadets are always excited to do it.”

Jamestown Composite Squadron is made up of 23 cadets aged 21 and younger and seniors who are 21 and older.

The Squadron gathered by 11:30 a.m. on Dec 17 to get the wreaths ready and then they had a small ceremony, Maternowski said. The Color Guard played a song and shot the ceremonial guns.

Maternowski said her squadron only places wreaths at Pine Hill.

“We have done Jamestown before too, and did that for nine years, then we switched to Falconer,” she said.

For Maternowski, she thought doing Wreaths Across America Day every year is important for her cadets because it shows them how to honor veterans and those who served.

“This shows the cadets how to say thank you for our freedoms that are given to us by the soldiers who did not survive,” she said. “They gave their lives to serve.”

Each year, Maternowski is given a list through the Squadron website of graves where wreaths are to be placed. She also works to get the word out through a donation sheet, the newspaper, Facebook and the community.

Maternowski said the day was a good way to get the cadets in the squadron involved.

The next Wreaths Across America Day will be Dec. 16, 2023.

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